Revolvers...why?
- Thread starter HKguy9
- Start date
If you end up in a fight at very close range, 3ft or less, a good case can be made that the "lowly snub revolver" is the absolute best gun available for that situation, bar none, end of discussion.
The short barrel and short overall length makes it difficult to grab away from you. The barrel can be jammed right into a goblin and fired without the gun going "out of battery". At this sort of distance, draw speed and speed of engagement are all-important, and the snub's simple manual of arms with no safety matters. If you're doing pocket carry and you sense trouble coming, "casually strolling along with your hands in your pockets" doesn't look threatening and nobody need know that you've already got a grip and can now do a draw/fire in under a second.
A *lot* of fights happen at this sort of range. If the goblin has a knife/club/etc he's going to try and close range to this point. If he wants to take your money, he needs to be almost there.
I consider a snub the ultimate "first response" and "always on you" gun. If you want to supplement it some of the time with something bigger, cool, 'specially those "late nights in the city" times.
The short barrel and short overall length makes it difficult to grab away from you. The barrel can be jammed right into a goblin and fired without the gun going "out of battery". At this sort of distance, draw speed and speed of engagement are all-important, and the snub's simple manual of arms with no safety matters. If you're doing pocket carry and you sense trouble coming, "casually strolling along with your hands in your pockets" doesn't look threatening and nobody need know that you've already got a grip and can now do a draw/fire in under a second.
A *lot* of fights happen at this sort of range. If the goblin has a knife/club/etc he's going to try and close range to this point. If he wants to take your money, he needs to be almost there.
I consider a snub the ultimate "first response" and "always on you" gun. If you want to supplement it some of the time with something bigger, cool, 'specially those "late nights in the city" times.
what I like about wheelguns...
- you can shoot loads that are HOT HOT HOT or almost like a rimfire, and not have to worry about cycling the action
- revolver grips are generally more ergonomic than auto grips
- revolver triggers are better than auto triggers (SA anyway, which is what I care about)
- I never lose a single piece of brass
- they're soooooo much cheaper
- you can shoot loads that are HOT HOT HOT or almost like a rimfire, and not have to worry about cycling the action
- revolver grips are generally more ergonomic than auto grips
- revolver triggers are better than auto triggers (SA anyway, which is what I care about)
- I never lose a single piece of brass
- they're soooooo much cheaper
jack pringle
New member
mike said if you don't know now, you never will.
can i say "go get you one". then you will know.
i consider my autos up close, blast em full of holes, tools.
my revolvers are things of beauty and, in the big maggies, raw power.
i shoot the autos a lot to keep familiar. buzz right thru a couple boxes in a hurry. takes all afternoon to shoot a few boxes of long range handloads. first the Smiths with sturdy loads. then the Rugers to raise some dust. very satisfying. very enjoyable.
in the end it amounts to different strokes. this is the way i do it.
can i say "go get you one". then you will know.
i consider my autos up close, blast em full of holes, tools.
my revolvers are things of beauty and, in the big maggies, raw power.
i shoot the autos a lot to keep familiar. buzz right thru a couple boxes in a hurry. takes all afternoon to shoot a few boxes of long range handloads. first the Smiths with sturdy loads. then the Rugers to raise some dust. very satisfying. very enjoyable.
in the end it amounts to different strokes. this is the way i do it.
deputy tom
New member
Revolvers can stay loaded for ever as the springs are always at rest unless actually shooting.I won't bother repeating all the other virtues as they have been explained in the above postings.tom.
Oh and even though I have a fondness for the 10mm, the 41 Magnum is still a more versatile and powerful cartridge.
Then we have the 44 Magnum and all the other large bore Godzilla killin' cartridges, that autoloaders aren't really set up for.
So revolvers definitely have a place, both in my heart and in the field.
Then we have the 44 Magnum and all the other large bore Godzilla killin' cartridges, that autoloaders aren't really set up for.
So revolvers definitely have a place, both in my heart and in the field.
Thing I like most other than what those here have provided so far.
Say with the N-frame, I can get a WIDE variety of chamberings all available in the same basic gun. True, similar things are done with 1911s like with 9mm, 38Super, 40S&W, and 45ACP.
But with a revolver I still have all the load flexibility with each respective chambering.
So far my fledgling collection of revolvers consists of: a 357Magnum model 27, a 38/44(38spl) post war, 44Magnum model 29, 45LongColt 25-3.
All the guns point pretty much the exact same way for me and it's just the most natural handling handgun type that I own. My 38/44 was the gun that started it all and I can just shoot like crazy with one of those revolvers in my hands.
I can only hope to get maybe another 2, 3, 4 or who knows how many more N-frame S&Ws
Say with the N-frame, I can get a WIDE variety of chamberings all available in the same basic gun. True, similar things are done with 1911s like with 9mm, 38Super, 40S&W, and 45ACP.
But with a revolver I still have all the load flexibility with each respective chambering.
So far my fledgling collection of revolvers consists of: a 357Magnum model 27, a 38/44(38spl) post war, 44Magnum model 29, 45LongColt 25-3.
All the guns point pretty much the exact same way for me and it's just the most natural handling handgun type that I own. My 38/44 was the gun that started it all and I can just shoot like crazy with one of those revolvers in my hands.
I can only hope to get maybe another 2, 3, 4 or who knows how many more N-frame S&Ws
Another issue: if you need defense on a real tight budget, the wheelgun is the way to go. Any number of $200 used revolvers will be absolutely reliable and effective. Damned few autos can say the same, with the possible exceptions of the Makarov, Bersa 380 and CZ52, each of which has various problems. The Mak and Bersa have that hideous DA first shot, SA thereafter which in my opinion is a total abortion on any gun, unless it can also be carried cocked and locked (EAA Witness/CZ75/etc) - the small critters aren't safe in that mode.
With the budget wheelgun, you won't have to test 200 of your carry rounds for feed reliability. That alone can add up to a huge cost if you try out various high-quality rounds.
With the budget wheelgun, you won't have to test 200 of your carry rounds for feed reliability. That alone can add up to a huge cost if you try out various high-quality rounds.
You've gotten some superb answers to your question, so I won't bother repeating what's already been said.
I will say, however, that there's more than a few reasons previously stated which explain why I still own different revolvers, and still carry a revolver in certain circumstances ... My 642-1 for lightweight pocket carry, and even occasionally one of my larger .357's or .44 magnums, for backcountry use ...
Revolvers will open a whole new world of handgunning to you
I will say, however, that there's more than a few reasons previously stated which explain why I still own different revolvers, and still carry a revolver in certain circumstances ... My 642-1 for lightweight pocket carry, and even occasionally one of my larger .357's or .44 magnums, for backcountry use ...
Revolvers will open a whole new world of handgunning to you
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Guy B. Meredith
New member
RAE,
Try the business end of an eight shot N frame. Lot of sparkle with full copper plated. Even enough sparkle to be seen down the length of the barrel.
Begins to give feel of Thompson drum mag.
I don't know what the others look like as I don't have Hydra Shok dummies and I'm not enough of a dummy to check out the business end with live Federals in there.
Try the business end of an eight shot N frame. Lot of sparkle with full copper plated. Even enough sparkle to be seen down the length of the barrel.
Begins to give feel of Thompson drum mag.
I don't know what the others look like as I don't have Hydra Shok dummies and I'm not enough of a dummy to check out the business end with live Federals in there.
My primary purpose for a revolver is for defense against larger dangerous predators in the backwoods.
I had a .357 GP100 way back when and tried to take a wild pig with it, I had hit the vitals several times before a shot to the brain eventually killed it. Since that time I had desired a larger caliber handgun, I then got a 4" Redhawk in .44 mag but it kicked terribly and accuracy was bismal.
I settled on the .45 caliber for my only handgun cartridge and have a Springfield Armory 1911-A1 and finally decided on the S&W 625. Can use the acp cartridges for general uses and then load it up hot with .45auto-rim which can handily subdue practically every mean booger in the woods.
We've even decided on a S&W 64 with a 3" barrel for my wife for self-defense because semi's are too complicated for her, especially in stressful situations. But for now she has the 625 loaded with acp's for home defense to use and I carry the 1911 with me.
That being said, the revolver is far from obsolete, it still has a major role to fill in the handgunning world.
I had a .357 GP100 way back when and tried to take a wild pig with it, I had hit the vitals several times before a shot to the brain eventually killed it. Since that time I had desired a larger caliber handgun, I then got a 4" Redhawk in .44 mag but it kicked terribly and accuracy was bismal.
I settled on the .45 caliber for my only handgun cartridge and have a Springfield Armory 1911-A1 and finally decided on the S&W 625. Can use the acp cartridges for general uses and then load it up hot with .45auto-rim which can handily subdue practically every mean booger in the woods.
We've even decided on a S&W 64 with a 3" barrel for my wife for self-defense because semi's are too complicated for her, especially in stressful situations. But for now she has the 625 loaded with acp's for home defense to use and I carry the 1911 with me.
That being said, the revolver is far from obsolete, it still has a major role to fill in the handgunning world.
Eric Larsen
New member
My love for my snubs isnt even a question and for my autos also. But I gotta question the "my wheels are faster to reload than my autos" ????????? What? Ive seen fast reloads with both and unless IM REALLY MISSING something...I cant agree....
Somebody SAVE me....
Shoot well
Somebody SAVE me....
Shoot well
Marko Kloos
Inactive
Actually, the auto only has a speed advantage for reloads as long as you have loaded magazines for it. (Even then, a well-trained revolver shooter can reload his gun via speedloaders almost as fast as the autoloader pistolero.)
Once you run out of loaded mags and have to work out of the ammo box, the revolver loads indeed quicker than the autopistol.
bad_dad_brad
New member
I have six semi-autos and just one revolver, my Ruger SP101 in .38+P. Guess what is on my night stand? The SP101. It is that simple. I trust it more than any other piece I own. Love em all though. This thread makes me want to go out and buy a new revolver . . . maybe two!
Wheels
ERIC, when we say that revolvers are faster to load we're talking about all the time it takes, round in-hand to round up the shoot. There's really no other fair way to measure unless you want to meassure filling clips to filling speed loaders. I think semis would still loose if both shooters were equally proficient.
ERIC, when we say that revolvers are faster to load we're talking about all the time it takes, round in-hand to round up the shoot. There's really no other fair way to measure unless you want to meassure filling clips to filling speed loaders. I think semis would still loose if both shooters were equally proficient.